Today I would like to share how I have been using the "I have a Dream" song I shared last week. If you missed it, you can listen to it here.
I used this song and incorporated rhythm sticks one day last week, paddle drums the next day, and various rhythm instruments the third day. All attempts were definitely interesting :), but the sticks were definitely the best instrumental accompaniment so far.
So, I wanted to share what I did with all my lovely readers. Maybe it will work for you too!
Before singing the song, I passed out rhythm sticks and everyone had their sticks quiet on their knees (we don't always reach the quiet part rapidly, but you get the picture). We worked on repeating an ostinato, "I have a Dream, I have a Dream, I have a Dream," etc. The picture below represents the rhythm and ostinato. (For classes where sticks would become the distraction, we clapped this rhythm with our hands first).
Once we got that together, we put the rhythm in the sticks. Some students could tap the rhythm independently, and others needed to say the ostinato each time.
Once we started the song, the ostinato rhythm fit right in. During the parts of the song where it sings about the color of your hair, skin, clothes you wear,etc. I have the students follow me doing something different with the sticks (i.e. rubbing sticks together, tapping my knees, doing hammer motion with one stick on another,etc.). The music sounds different here, so I figure a different motion is called for. Then when the chorus repeats, I go back to the ostinato.
It worked really well, I must say, and the students enjoyed being a part of the song.
What do you think?
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